Impassable ice roads delay holiday travel

Impassable ice roads and crossings are putting a damper on Christmas plans for some northerners.

Barry Gully from Colville Lake said his family planned to travel to Fort Good Hope for Christmas but the road isn't co-operating.

Gully and his family wanted to see his sister before she returns south.

"She's undergoing radiation treatment right now so the doctors only gave her four days to go home and then go back to Edmonton," said Gully. "We kind of wanted to be in Fort Good Hope to spend Christmas with her but that's not going to happen now."

Gully said Colville Lake's half of the ice road is complete — but the Fort Good Hope section of the road is not finished yet.

That community has had a lot to deal with, including several arson fires. One burnt down the Northern Store earlier this month.

Gully said it appears the focus is on getting the road to Norman Wells open so that people can get last minute shopping done.

There are a number of other winter roads that may not be ready for the holiday weekend.

The winter road from Tulita to Norman Wells is closed. The ice roads to Gameti and Whati remain un-opened; similarly for the ice crossing to Deline. And the Mackenzie River ice crossing on highway three near Fort Providence is not ready yet but the ferry is still operating.